The Experimental Theatre Foundation`s Initiative      Back to BNU
BAL NATYA UTSAV : : (Children Theatre Festival)
(A Process Report) : : by Darshana Dube

---THE INVOLVED ORAGNISATIONS---

Experimental Theatre Foundation [ETF]

Manjul Bhardwaj and a team of social workers founded Experimental Theatre Foundation [ETF], a Non Government Organization [NGO] in the year 1992with a view to use theatre as a medium of change. Realizing the tremendous potential of theatre in bringing about the change in the individuals, groups, organizations and society as a whole, various activities were initiated by the founder member Manjul, who himself has been associated with theatre since last 20 years The founder member Manjul Bhardwaj observes, “ Theatre is the most impactful medium to bring about the inner transformation leading to a lasting social reform.

ETF undertakes all its activities based on the practice of Theatre of Relevance initiated by the theatre activist, Manjul Bhardwaj. Which states that a theatre is:

1.That is relevant to the context of the society and owes its social responsibility, not to Art just for the Art sake.

2.Which caters to human needs and provide itself as a platform for expression.

3.Which explores itself as a medium of change/development.

4.That comes out from the ' limits of entertainment ' to a way of living.

5.Which enhances itself from 'Art for the Art sake' to social concern and, become part of lives of the masses.

ACTIVITIES-

The various activities conducted by ETF consist of:

I] Conducting various workshops on:
· Attitudinal changes through theatre
· Theatre as a career

· Street theatre

· Personality development through theatre.
· Theatre as a medium of change.
II. Performing Street and stage plays based on Original Hindi as well as adapted scripts.

III. Conducting Creative- capacity- building, training programs for the weaker section of the society.

IV. Providing formal education to vulnerable children, especially child laborers.

V. Documentation of scripts and theatrical process.

VI. Using theatre as a strategy to eliminate child labour.

The several NGOSthat have been a part of the transformation brought about through the BNU conducted by ETF that propagates the theatre of relevance are:

1] Meljol: a charitable organization fighting for the causes of children that promote various welfare programs in the municipal and private schools to create awareness so that a new generation believing in equal rights, opportunity and respect for all, is born.

2] Prerna-A voluntary organization working in the red light area of Mumbai with the prostitutes and their children aiming to give them a better future.

3] Saathi: A voluntary organization working for the young people living on the streets without any family support and protection.

4] Vatsalya: An NGO that provides shelter to the street children and works for their welfare.

5] Yuva: A voluntary organization working on issues facing the urban poor focusing on their housing and livelihood problems. It also works with street children on their health, education, and shelter and offers crisis intervention as and when needed.

6] Shivai Vidya Mandir- A private school for normal children that is located in Bhandup is the only institution that is not working for the street children and that participated in the BNU to give its students a wider exposure.

7] Hamara Club : A non -profitable organization that provides shelter to vulnerable children.

8] Door Step School- the institution looks after the needs of the slum children belonging to the A ward of Mumbai.

9] K.E.M. hospital –Dr. Vijaya Bhalerao has taken up the child-to-child project that has many eighth standard students from the slum and one of the ways to make them aware about the health issues is dramatics. She is of the opinion that one time exposure is fine and helps the children to grow but marginally as there is no continuity in terms of regular staging to drive home the various issues. Her group which has participated in the BNU only once is not introduced to Abhivyakti Manch yet which will solve the problem faced by her. She also feels that each problem- issue should be staged with a viable solution without which the process of change remains incomplete.

10] CCVC- Co-ordination Committee for the Vulnerable Children is a forum that offers its net working, advocacy and coordinating services for the children’s right to participation. It is playing a very important role in improving the quality of life for the vulnerable children. CCVC offers a forum to many NGOs involved in the welfare projects for children.. It has recently undertaken a CACL [Campaign against the Child Labor] where it proposes to work at the grass root level to create awareness about issues related to a girl child. Theatre is one of the means through which it intends to achieve this.

11] UNICEF: the role played by UNICEF is very crucial that has helped the propagation of ‘Theatre of relevance’ by way of providing funds and extend technical expertise to promote the activities that support the children’s right to participate.

12] Prithvi theatre: Prithvi theatre, owned by Miss Sanjana Kapoor, the daughter of veteran film actor Shashi Kapoor stands out in the Mumbai theatre circle for its unique auditorium and whole hearted support extended to the experimental theatre without resorting to commercialism. Even ETF is indebted to Prithvi for its support.

13] CRY: the association of ETF with CRY is about 5to 6 years old. CRY has not only played an important role by providing the financial assistance but also convinced by the ideology has been keenly involved with all the activities of ETF, including the BNU.

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